Wiping mechanism for plate-printing machines



p 2, 3 w E. BENNISON 1,774,499

WIPING MECHANISM FOR PLATE PRINTING MACHINES Filed Sept. '7. 192a ZSheets-Sheet 1 by W K ATTY.

Sept. 2, 1930. w. E. BENNISON WIPING MECHANISM FOR PLATE PRINTING MACHINES Filed Sept. 7. 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORY Patented Sept. 2, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM EDWARD BENNISON, OF WANDSWORTH, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR TO B. HOE &; ('10., INC., 01 NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK WIPING MECHANISM FOR PLATE-PRINTING MACHINES Application filed September 7, 1928, Serial No. 304,461, and in Great Britain September 22, 1927.

The present invention relates to improvements in plate prlnting machines in which the printing is done from a plate or plates having an intaglio image thereon, and in which the surface of the plate is cleaned of ink before printing therefrom, by means of a wiping mechanism consisting of pads which are reciprooated over the surface of the plates. These pads are held against the plates with a mechanism that is carefully adjusted to maintain the exact pressure requisite to good printing. At times during the operation of these presses it is necessary to separate the cylinder carrying theplates 5 from the co-acting impression cylinder, but it is desirable not to disturb the relation of the wiping mechanism to the plate cylinder.

It is the especial objectof the invention herein disclosed to provide a mechanism acting to coordinate the movements of the wiping mechanism with those-of the plate cylinder whereby the plate cylinder may be moved out of printing relation with the impression cylinder and later returned to printing relation, and whereby the relation of the wiping mechanism to the plate cylinder will be unchanged.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a wiping mechanism for a plate .7, printing machine of generally improved con struction, that will be simple, durable and inexpensive in construction, as well as convenient, practical, serviceable and efficient in its use. 1

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will apear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the com bination and arrangement of parts, and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that various changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a general side view of a portion of a rotary plate printing machine showing a portion of the plate cylinder, the

plate wiping mechanism and the improved means for coordinating their movements when the plate cylinder is moved to the nonprlntlng position.

Figure 2 is a side view of a portion of the machine as shown in Figure 1, showing 5:; details of the wiping mechanism and the means for. operating it.

Figure 3 is a sectional view partly broken away, showing the mechanism as viewed in the direction of arrow 3 of Figure 2. to

Figure 4 is a View showing the plate cylinder in printing relation with the impression cylinder, and

Figure 5 is a View showing the plate cylinder moved out of printing relation with the impression cylinder.

Referring to the drawings: 11 indicates a portion of the side frame of a rotary printing machine adapted to print'from plates shown at 12 and 13 that have an image in intaglio engraved or otherwise formed thereon. The plates are curved to lit the surface of the plate cylinder 14 to which they may be secured in any desired manner.

The cylinder 14 is mounted on a shaft 15 7 which is journaled in the eccentric bushing 16, carried-by the frame 11. It will be understood that a similar construction is used at the opposite end of the cylinder 14 and that the frame 11, bushing 16 and other so bearings and supports shown on the drawingsare duplicated on the other side of the machine, hence a description of one side will suffice for both.

As this invention relates only to the wipg5 ing mechanism, many other details of the machine have been omitted from the drawing in order to better show the novel features; however, it will be understood that the plates carried by the cylinder 14 are linked by passing under suitable inking. rollers, and are passed under a doctor blade which scrapes the-ink fromthe surface of the plate. The plate then passes on under the wiping pads indicated at 17, which remove any traces of ink left by the doctor blade and thoroughly clean the surface of the plate. Further rotation of the cylinder 14 it will be understood carries it into engagement with an impression cylinder 18 supported below the cylin- 100 der 14 and adapted to receive a sheet to be printed.

In the operation of this type of press it is necessary at times, as for example when a sheet is not fed to the cylinder, to separate the plate and impression cylinders, and in the construction herein shown the eccentric-bushing 16 has an extended portion providedwith a stud 20 which acts as a pivot for a link 21. Any suitable mechanism may be providedifor exerting a pull on the link 21, thus turning the eccentric bushing l6-relative to the frame- 11, and raising the cylinder 14 out of operating contact with the impression cylinder 18E In the preferred form of wiping mechanism, the wiper'pads 17 are pressed into engagement with the plate by arcuate springs 19, and are slidably mounted in guides 22 which themselves. are slidably mounted in brackets 23 and 24, carried by theframe 11. The wiperpadsarereciprocated in guides 22 by meansof levers 25 shown on Figures 2 and 3 which areconnected at one end to the pads and are pivotally'mounted at 26. The'other ends of the levers 25 are connected to the sheaths 27 of eccentrics which are mounted on a shaft 28 driven by anyconvenientcon nection to a suitable running shaft of the machine. It will thus be understood that the wiper pads are given a reciprocating motion parallel with the axisof the cylinder 14.

The shaft 29 carries a mitre gear 30 which meshes with mitre gear 31, secured to the shaft 82. The worm gears 3Bare also secured to this shaft and drive worm wheels 34.

hese worm wheels have attached thereto slotted discs Into the slots extend pins 36. forming connections for links 37, the other ends of which are connected to arms 38-provided with pawls' 39 in engagement with ratchet wheels 40 whichtransmit' the drives to rollers 41, idlers 42, and to'additional rollera 43.

Rolls 44, of suitable fabric material for wiping the plates are'wound on reels and supported in the press frame in bearings 45, the spindles being extended and provided with a brake drum 46 which is engagedby' an adjustable braking mechanism 47. Webs from the rolls 44 are led around the rollers 48'and 4-9 th nce around the wiper pads, thence around the rollers50, 51 and 41, and wound about reels which rest on the rollers 41 and 43. It will be understood that when the ratchet mechanism above described, rotates the rolls 41 and 43, the rolls 51 will be rotated and the wiping fabric drawn off the roll 44, around the wiper, and rolled up on the rolls 51, thus constantly changing the wiping surface in contact with the plate. Ratchet wheels 52, are carried by the rolls 51, and are engaged by the pawls 53, thus preventing the rolls 51 from unwindingduring the return stroke of the pawls 39. The upper portion of the guide members 22 are connected to rods 54, which are slidably mounted in adjustable bushings 55, threaded into brackets 56. secured to the frame 11; and between these bushings 55 and collars 57 which are secured to the rods 54 are springs 58 which press the wiping pads 17, and hence the'wip'ingfabric into contact with the surface of printing plates.-

In machines of this type the pressure with which the wiping pads are pressed against the printing plates is of great importance and when the required. adjustment has been made to obtain the correct pressure, it is very desirable that movement of the: cylinder 14 away from the impression cylinder should not effect thispressurewhen cylinder 14 1s returned to its normal position.

In order to accomplish this, the guides-22 are provided with extensions 59 which en'- gage with members 60 having screws 61, whereby the relation of the guides 22 to the members 60 may be adjusted. The lower ends of the members 60 are provided with rollers 62 which engage the periphery of discs 63 formed on the eccentric bushing 16 and concentric with the bearing for the shaft 15 which carries the plate cylinder. The lower portion of the member 60 has slotted holes 64 which engagewith pins 65 secured to'the main frame, and their movem'ent'is restricted thereby.

It will be seen that when the cylinder 14 is raised by turning the eccentric bushing 16, the-disc 62 and the members 60 maintain the guides 22, and hence the wipingpads 17, at a constant distance from the surface of the plate carried on the cylinder 14.

Vhat I claim is:

1. In a printing machine of the type de1- scribed, a plate cylinder carrying a printing plate, wiper pads for wiping ink from the surface of the plate, eccentric'bushings forming: bearings for the plate cylinderand having discs with peripheries concentric with the plate cylinder bearings, and memhersconnected'to the wiper pads and in-operativeengagement with the discs.

2; In a' printing machine of the: type" described, a frame, a cylinder carrying ap'rinting plate, bearings carried inthe frame and rotatably supporting the cylinder, means for moving the hearings to shift the cylinder relatively to other parts of the-machine, mechanism for wipingink from the'surfaceof the plate, and means controlled by themovement of the bearings for maintaining. the same relation between the wipingm'echanism and the cylinder before and after'the cylinder is shifted.

3. In a printing machine of the type described, a frame, a plate cylinder'carrying a printing plate, an impression cylinder coactingwith the plate cylinder, bearings for the plate cylinder supported in thefi'ame and movable therein, whereby the plate cylinder may be moved to trip the impression, a Wiper oscillatably supported by means secured to the frame, and means controlled by the movement of the said bearings for maintaining the same relation between the Wiper and the plate cylinder before and after the cylinder is moved to trip the impression.

4. In a machine of the type described, a frame, a cylinder carrying a printing plate, a plurality of Wipers oscillatably supported by the frame and positioned to engage the plate, bearings in the frame to rotatably support the cylinder, means for moving the bearings to shift the axis of the cylinder relatively to other parts of the machine, and means controlled by the movement of the bearings for maintaining the same relation between the Wipers and the axis of the cylinder before and after the cylinder is shifted.

5. In a machine of the type described, a frame, a cylinder to Which a printing plate is secured, bearings in the frame to so support the cylinder that it may be rotated on its axis, means for moving the bearings to shift said axis relatively to other parts of the ma chine, a plurality of Wipers adapted to engage the plate, sliding supports whereby said Wipers may be moved in a direction substantially radial With respect to said axis, and means controlled by the movement of the bearings for coincidently moving the Wipers and thereby maintaining the same relation between the wipers and the axis before and after the cylinder is shifted.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature.

WILLIAM EDWARD BENNISON. 

